Care Solar Solutions has partnered with Australian owned and operated energy retailer Energy Locals to get you a better deal for your solar energy. Energy Locals is offering one of the most competitive feed-in tariffs in New South Wales at 12.87cents per kWh and there’s an added bonus if you make the switch – a free solar ready net meter worth up to $150. Energy Locals’ Luke Melisi told CSS the company is able to offer such an attractive feed-in tariff because of the company’s structure and vision to make energy cheaper, cleaner and fairer for all. “We’ve been in the market for just over a year,” shared Luke . “Through very little marketing and building organic relationships in the community we’ve grown to over 4,500 customers … Read more

Port Macquarie local Dudley is a savvy energy consumer, but this hasn’t stopped him from switching on his home’s air conditioner amid the sweltering summer heat. You see Dudley has a secret weapon… In November, he upgraded his property’s 2kW solar system to a 5kW system, and invested in a 10kW LG Chem battery from Care Solar Solutions. “We haven’t run the battery down once,” shared Dudley. “We’re very pleased we went ahead with a 10kW battery… At its lowest it’s reached 30% and most days it’s managed to creep its way up to 99 or 100% charge.” The roll-back of the state’s generous 60cent solar feed-in tariff on 1 January 2017 prompted Dudley to investigate an alternative energy solution. When their household’s quarterly energy bills began to rise into … Read more

Leonardo da Vinci called it early: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” On a former cattle property, surrounded by rainforest and towering eucalypts in a secluded pocket of the Bellingen Shire, Matthew and Roslyn Cameron are steadily creating their version of simplicity. “It’s the seclusion of the place, it’s clean and quiet and out of the way with no industry; we were looking for somewhere peaceful,” shared Matthew about the 200 acres of fertile land purchased 10 years ago on the Kennaicle Creek Road. With seclusion came great planning and effort to create a sustainable sanctuary on the property in preparation for the couple’s permanent relocation from Brisbane where they specialised in developing custom software for government and the corporate world. “We’ve put in all the infrastructure; roads, water and power, … Read more

German energy storage manufacturer sonnen has shared its vision to make clean and affordable energy accessible to all at the company’s Australian product launch. The sonnenFlat premiere in Sydney revealed how households which install their sonnenBatterie can become independent from conventional energy retailers and take their energy future into their own hands. “This is a very significant milestone for our company,” said Founder and Chief Executive Officer of sonnen Germany Christoph Ostermann . “We see Australia as a very important market.” So just what is sonnenFlat? It’s an energy tariff for sonnenBatterie owners. They receive a guaranteed amount of energy for a low monthly fee and in return some of the energy stored in the battery is used to assist in the stabilisation of the electricity grid. … Read more

Presented with a $55,000 quote to connect their Port Macquarie property to the grid nine years ago, Robert and Cisca Van Breenan instead chose renewable energy to power their home. Almost a decade later, the couple decided to upgrade their solar PV system “from 3.3kVAs to 6kVAs” and replace their existing battery with a modern version to increase their solar generation and storage, engaging local company Care Solar Solutions for the job. The Van Breenan’s opted for a 10kWh LG Chem next generation battery and say their upgraded system is performing well. “Even for the last couple of days with the rainy and wet weather, it nearly charged my battery full,” shared Robert during a drizzly June day. “You have to get used to a couple of things; you can’t … Read more

The catchment area for a ground-breaking home solar battery storage trial in the Collombatti area has been widened to encourage more residents to take part. The two-year, partially subsidised battery storage trial comprises big savings on the latest home energy storage technology. Port Macquarie’s own Care Solar Solutions (CSS) has been invited to offer competitive battery storage quotes to willing participants. CSS Director Phillip Butterworth said the project is aimed at reducing network demand during peak periods, and the trial boundary extension is a positive step. “It’s allowing more consumers to become part of the network trial which enables them to reduce their power consumption, and receive battery storage at a very much reduced price,” said Mr Butterworth. The trial is a joint project of the Australian Renewable Energy … Read more

Eight years ago, Kerry and Valda Bourke were among the first Harrington residents to adopt solar technology in an effort to reduce their power bills. The decision, although expensive at the time, proved to be a worthwhile one, with payback experienced in half the estimated timeframe. The Bourkes are leading the charge towards home battery storage and putting their faith in renewable energy once more – following the roll-back of New South Wales’ 60-cent feed-in tariff on 1 January. “I don’t like sending my power off to the power companies and getting six cents a kilowatt for it so thought I might as well store it and use it myself,” shared Kerry. The Bourke’s original 5kW solar PV system delivered a credit of up to $790 a quarter from their … Read more

It’s not often you meet a couple who is eager to receive their quarterly power bill, but for Sovereign Hills residents Paul and Glenda Kells there was an extra incentive. The energy-conscious Port Macquarie couple recently had a complete solar storage solution installed on their new home to help minimise their power bills, and this would be the system’s first test. “With no solar system we were averaging 14.4kW consumption a day, including the use of an air conditioner. After the solar system was installed this dropped to an average of 2.8kW a day,” Paul explained. “We’ve also been putting an average of 11.3kW a day back into the grid during the same period.” Paul and Glenda’s system (which consists of a 5.1kW solar system and a 6.5kWh LG Chem … Read more

Hastings business owner Rod Hall may have a degree in maths, but he believes anyone can run the sums and work out the benefits of solar. “It’s a no-brainer. If you do the numbers on it there is no way you wouldn’t invest in it,” Mr Hall said. Mr Hall runs an aviation business from his Port Macquarie hangar and recently had Care Solar Solutions install a 5kVA solar system (consisting of 24 panels) and a dual inverter on the premises. It’s not Mr Hall’s first investment in solar – he has previously instigated the installation of a 30kVA system on the formerly owned Kempsey Toyota business premises, while two homes have each been equipped with a 5kVA system. He said the results spoke for themselves. “At Kempsey Toyota … Read more

Care Solar Solutions is proud to feature a complete solar energy solution on Hotondo Homes’ new eco-friendly Port Macquarie display home. Located on Sovereign Drive, in the new Sovereign Hills Display Village, the home boasts an LG Chem 6.5kW RESU (residential energy storage unit) and a 3.0kW solar PV system. Hotondo can monitor their solar power generation and energy consumption online via the innovative Reposit monitoring system. The complete solution is aimed at slashing the home’s dependency on the grid, and the home’s power bills. Hotondo Homes’ Port Macquarie franchisee Fiona Petterson said they chose CSS to install their energy solution firstly because they’re a local company. “And also because they were interested in working with us on future eco-friendly packages,” she explained. As for why they went … Read more

Two months after the end of the state’s generous solar feed-in tariffs and solar customers on the Mid North Coast have been taking up battery storage in droves. Port Macquarie based company Care Solar Solutions has recorded a steady increase in battery storage enquiries from people of all ages who are experiencing a big difference in their quarterly power bills. “We’ve heard from couples who would normally receive a credit of around $600 a quarter who are now receiving a bill of up to $300 – that’s a $900 change in their circumstances,” commented Care Solar Solutions’ Director Phillip Butterworth. “Many of the solar customers we meet are very mindful of their energy usage for budgetary reasons and until recently they were rewarded for their efforts. We’re making it our mission … Read more

Collombatti area residents are eligible to take part in a two-year, partially subsidised battery storage trial. Care Solar Solutions has been invited to offer competitive battery storage quotes to willing participants in the Mid North Coast rural township. The trial is a joint project of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Essential Energy, Reposit Power, solar inverter supplier SMA Australia and the University of Technology Sydney. How it works Trial participants can obtain an upfront subsidy of up to $5,500 towards the installation of a battery storage system, and can participate in three ways by: Installing battery storage only Installing battery storage with an existing solar system Installing battery storage, and a solar system at the participant’s own cost. During the … Read more

The latest solar battery storage and monitoring products took centre stage at Care Solar Solutions’ first product reveal and information evening in Port Macquarie on Friday evening. Many thanks to our guests who travelled from all corners of the Mid North Coast to learn more about the exciting product range from LG Chem and the most amazing energy optimisation software from Reposit Power. A big thank you to the Hon. Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams who kindly opened our event. And another big thank you must go to Harry Chami from Solar Juice who delivered a presentation on the increasingly popular LG Chem next generation Residential Energy Storage Unit (RESU), as well as Karl Edmondson from Reposit Power. If you’re not familiar with the Reposit software yet, trust me … Read more

Don't miss this exciting opportunity to learn more about home battery storage from the experts. Care Solar Solutions' is holding an information evening at Sails Resort's new Pavilion in Port Macquarie on Friday, 17 February at 5:30pm. Hear about the latest technology from energy storage experts LG Chem and about Care Solar Solutions' plans for 2017. With special guest appearance from the Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams. Be sure to register your attendance by emailing jessica@caresolarsolutions.com.au before Monday, 13 February as numbers are limited. … Read more

Port Macquarie battery storage specialists Care Solar Solutions is proud to become an accredited installer for energy optimisation software developer Reposit Power. Reposit’s specialised software learns, adapts and predicts consumers’ energy usage patterns to ensure they get the most from their solar. A Canberra start-up, Reposit even sells consumers’ power back to the grid when the prices are highest – earning them GridCredits™ and an even lower power bill. The technology automatically decides whether to store energy in the battery during the day or sell it back to the grid at a profit. A Reposit app displays consumers’ energy consumption, solar generation, battery behaviour and energy costs in real time. It takes this information and suggests simple ways to use energy more effectively. The Reposit technology is compatible with … Read more

Solar customers across the Mid North Coast are taking back the power ahead of the end of the state’s generous solar feed-in tariffs. With less than a fortnight remaining until the abolition of the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme, householders have been busy investigating and purchasing battery storage to ensure they remain the beneficiary of their solar investment. Director of Care Solar Solutions (CSS) Phillip Butterworth said the interest in battery storage technology from Mid North Coast householders had skyrocketed over the past three months. "From Forster, Port Macquarie and Euroka to Missabotti, in the Nambucca Shire, we've installed battery storage and complete solar and storage solutions to householders across a vast area," Mr Butterworth shared from his base in Port Macquarie. “This region recorded one of the state’s highest adoption … Read more

Christmas has arrived early at Forster couple Bob and Jan Lee’s home. Their new battery storage unit was installed by Care Solar Solutions just in time for the extra house guests, and before the roll-back of the big solar feed-in tariffs on New Year’s Day. The Lees have enjoyed the 60 cent feed-in tariff for their excess solar energy for the past five years. Predicting their power bills would double, following the end of the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme on 31 December, they increased their PV system from 3kWh to almost 5kWh and had their surplus solar diverted to an LG Chem next generation 9.8kWh RESU (residential energy storage unit). “We now have 16 panels feeding into the battery and eight panels feeding into the grid,” shared Mr Lee who, … Read more

Solar households, keen to avoid a spike in their power bills, following the end of the state’s generous solar feed-in tariffs have been shopping for more than Christmas presents over recent months. Energy expert iSelect has experienced an almost 50 per cent jump in enquiries from New South Wales solar customers seeking the best tariffs available to them, ahead of the roll-back of the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme on 1 January. The scheme’s end means households which currently receive 60c per kWh for their rooftop generated solar energy may see this tariff drop as low as 5c per kWh. As a result, approximately 146,000 solar powered households across the state may be faced with a nasty surprise in the mail when their electricity bills start arriving next month. … Read more

The retirement of coal-fired generators will increase residential electricity prices in most places according to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s annual report. “Prices are likely to rise in most parts of Australia over the next two years, but expected to fall slightly in South East Queensland and Tasmania,” AEMC Chairman John Pierce said. Wholesale costs are estimated to increase by between 5% and 15% each year over 2015/16 to 2018/19 in most states and territories, while demand remains flat. The closure of the Hazelwood power station in Victoria will lead to wholesale price increases in most states. The report estimates the national average residential bill will be $78 higher in 2018/19 due to Hazelwood retiring, compared with Hazelwood continuing to operate. The report also shows significant variation in wholesale prices … Read more

Plans to add a backyard pool to their home this summer has inspired a Port Macquarie couple to take the solar plunge. And when Bede and Debbie Kennedy were investigating solar panel providers they made a decision to shop local. The Kennedys chose Care Solar Solutions for their 4.1kWh solar PV system which includes 16 Phono Solar panels, an inverter and net meter. “We chose Care Solar Solutions because it’s a local business,” explained Mrs Kennedy. “We’re getting an in-ground pool which means we’ll soon have a pool pump and I wanted to make the cost of running it cheaper… And just in general we believe our power bill will be cheaper by switching on our washing machine and dishwasher during sunlight hours or before work.” The Federal Government's … Read more